The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-05-26
AMUSE THE CHILDREN.
Some Excellent Ways of Keeping the Lit
tie Ones Quiet and Cheerful.

Some Excellent Ways of Keeping the Lit
tie Ones Quiet and Cheerful.
Give the children something to do.
and they will not torment you by med
ding with things with which they have
no right. 1t is only when most chill
dren are tired of their playthings and
are restless and unquiet that they arc
apt to transgress the laws of obedience.
A healthy child will very rarely st still
for any length of time. 1t isn't natural
that he should, and it should not be ex-
pected of him. 1t is cruel and unnat-
ural to say to child whose principal
fault, if fault it can be called, is rest
lessness, "Go and isit down on that
chair, and don't move until I tell YOU"
Yet often mothers say this and persist
in having it strictly obeyed. l have
seen little children so treated, with
grave faces, 60 slowly to the chair,
take their places on it. fold their hands.
and like little martyrs sit quietly, with
the exception of a long-drawn sigh
that would escape from them now and
then, no matter how hard they tried to
suppress it. This must surely be wrong,
to punish child for no offense what
ever but his natural activity. Had he
wilfully disobeyed. he might have been
punished in a different way, but GER
tainly no chastisement that could be
given would be more trying to his dis
position and nerves than that of sitting
still.
How much better it would be to pro,
vide something for the restless little
hands and brains to do. Have some
toys placed away to be brought out at
Just such time. When they are tired
of their everyday playthings. sur
prise at getting something new vii
cheer them wonderfully, and their de
light and interest in their fresh posses
sions will allay for a time, at least
their fever of restlessness. Let then
have some harmless liquid glue and
teach them to repair their broken toys.
They will be delighted to do this, for al
healthy, active children love to work
and you will be astonished to watch the
puzzling and planning the little head
will do ere they complete their work tt
their own satisfaction. The article
may not be put together just right;
dilapidated horse, that had both heat
and tail broken off. may be fixed wit
head where the tail ought to be an
vice versa, and doll with broken feet
may have the appearance OF walkin
both ways at once. But what of that
the little mechanics are satisfied wit
their work, and who else has a right t
complain? Not we older people, surely
for we make graver mistakes every da
in our labor.
A scrap book is an excellent thing TO
the little ones to puzzle their brain
over Give them pair of scissors with
out any points, such as are usually use
at dry goods stores, an old book wit
brown paper leaves, some paste and an
kind of picture cards, papers, ETC., an
let them cut and paste to their heart
content. They will occupy hours in TIL
| klIlu Ol WOIh. ", SOlIC WI lOu 1AiD'
say, "they will make such mess wit
the little scraps of paper that they GU
in trimming the pictures" Yer
likely they will, but they can b
easily taught to pick them all u
when they are through. If there is
baby in the family the mother ca
make a nice, stout picture book {
silesia by covering two pieces of past
board of the size desired for cover
and sewing or gluing between, tight,
leaves of silesia of any color liked. L.
the children fill it by FASTING on tt
leaves any kinds of pictures they wis
This will furnish a great deal of anus
ment for them, and be a serviceabl
never-ending book of wonders to bah.
Boston BudQet.